iqO Shufeldt, Material for a Study of the Megapodiidcs. [j^f")",, 



tibio-tarsus, and big above, the head being the most expanded 

 part. 



There is a big, peg-Hke sesamoid at the inner side of the articula- 

 tion of the tibio-tarsus and the tarso-metatarsus, which is well 

 shown in fig. 37. Judging from the dried skeleton alone, it seems 

 to be attached to the bones only through the means of ligaments. 



Tarso-metatarsus has an extreme length of 9 cms. ; its shaft is 

 smooth and much flattened in the antero-posterior direction, 

 which sharpens up its lateral aspects. Longitudinal muscular 

 lines mark its shaft in front as well as posteriorly ; its short, 

 cubical hypotarsus is but once pierced for tendinal passage, while 

 two longitudinal grooves for the same purpose are present on its 

 posterior aspect. 



Distally, the trochlea are large, and arranged and formed as 

 we generally find them in the normal foot, the middle one being 

 the lowermost ; the inner one well turned backwards, while the 

 outer one is less so. 



Between the middle and outer one there is to be seen the usual 

 perforating foramen for the passage of the anterior tibial artery. 

 Two small foramina also pierce the upper end of the shaft from 

 before, backwards. 



A rather large accessory tarsal articulates witli the side of the 

 shaft a short distance above the inner trochlea ; there is nothing 

 unusual in its form. 



All the podal digits and their joints are large, and otherwise in 

 keeping with the powerful skeleton of the pelvic limb of this 

 mound-builder (figs, ^y and 41). They are arranged upon the 

 usual plan of 2, 3, 4, and 5 phalanges to the first to the fourth toe 

 respectively. The ungital joints or claws are rather long, sharp- 

 pointed, and to some degree curved, especially the hallucial one. 



Possibly there may have been some small sesamoids in the 

 plantar tendons of the foot of this maleo ; but, if so, they were 

 removed and liot preserved at the time the skeleton was roughed 

 out. 



Concluding Remarks. 



Dr. J. A. Leach, R.A.O.U., editor of The Emu, writing me from 

 Melbourne, Austraha, on the 5th October, 1917, says that "our 

 three mound-builders have been rather a trouble to ornithologists, 

 so that we should welcome some fresh light from you as to their 

 position in classification." 



In his excellent little work, " An Australian Bird Book," Dr. 

 Leach places the Megapodiida in the Order Galliformes (Order IL, 

 Sub-Class IL, NeognathcB — Carinatce, minus Tinamidce), the only 

 mound-bird arrayed in the group being the " Mallee-Fowl " 

 [Leipoa ocellata). Bowdler Sharpe hsts the other forms, among 

 which we find the remaining Austrahan species — namely, 

 Megapodius duperreyi, Cathetimis lathami, and C. purpitreicollis 

 (Cape York). Sharpe also arrayed the mound-birds in the Order 

 Galliformes. 



